Ponant's 10 Alaska cruises in 2024 rich in wildlife/cultural content

All itineraries will feature a crew of naturalists specializing in geology, ornithology, glaciology, marine mammals, botany and ethnology. For even more discovery, travelers can opt for two co-branded expeditions in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys that provide a deep-dive into Alaska’s history, landscapes and wildlife.

Forests and fjords

The seven- and eight-night sailings will explore the Inside Passage, with boat landings and outings, humpback whale watching, and tours of natural areas teeming with ancient conifer and resinous trees. Travelers will get close-up views of some of Alaska’s most extraordinary wildlife: black bears, orcas, bald eagles, sea lions and more.

As the ship navigates the narrow Endicott Arm fjord, views of Dawes Glacier will unfold along with the 653,000-acre Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness nature preserve.

Community experiences

A 10-night sailing from Sitka to Vancouver will offer more emphasis on community experiences, such as conversations with a resident of Elfin Cove, who will speak about the way of life in this small fishing settlement. Off the west coast of British Columbia, passengers will meet with the local Kwakwaka’wakw people, the original inhabitants of the Northern Vancouver Island area, to experience a traditional dance in a log house.

This sailing comes with more opportunity to discover British Columbia’s coastal landscapes, including the Johnstone Strait and the Pearse Islands.

Seward-Vancouver

 The 11-night voyages (Seward to Vancouver/Vancouver to Seward) offer a complete Alaska experience. Passengers will get to talk with fishermen in the 'Little Norway of Alaska,' meet the Tlingit peoples of Kake (home to one of the largest totem poles in Alaska), dive into gold rush history in Skagway, glimpse mighty peaks like Mount Saint Elias (the second highest mountain in Canada and the US) and cruise Prince William Sound to spot orcas, grizzly bears and humpback whales and marvel at the Harvard and Bryn Mawr glaciers.